Beyoncé: Lemonade

When life gives you Beyoncé, you get Lemonade. At least that is what happened for the many of us who were tuned in for Beyoncé’s visual album on HBO last night. This musical body of work was nothing short of spectacular. The hive is already going crazy on social media posting still shots from her visual master piece and quoting the lyrics.

The album’s epicenter was the emotions that phased “Bey” throughout the infidelity of her marriage.  Yes, “MARRIAGE!!!” This was not a boyfriend-girlfriend feud, this was a…. liked-it…. put-a-ring-on-it…. but he-still-cheating…. marital quarrel.

The music and poetry that was unveiled was an expressive rollercoaster of emotion. She started with “Intuition” which transformed into “Denial,” “Anger,” “Apathy,” and “Emptiness.” But just when you thought the King and Queen of Pop Culture are through, Beyoncé flips the script with “Accountability,” “Reformation,” “Forgiveness,” “Resurrection,” “Hope,” and “Redemption.”

Of course everyone is not thrilled with the underlining message to stay with a cheater. Many feel this album sends the wrong message. As a predominate figure of feminism and over all “girl-power” fans are conflicted with the admission of being subdued. Others feel that this album is an account of her life and judgement should not come into the equation.

Beyoncé is not usually this open, so it does prompt some interesting questions like: what motivated the tea spillage? Is this album his punishment? Who is “Becky with the good hair?” Whatever the case may be, seems like Bey and J worked it out.

Her husband, Jay Z, was featured in one of the 11 videos, but was not on any of the tracks. We watched the two rekindle what almost burned out according to this album. Her father, mother, and daughter all made appearances in the visual art, which did not come as a complete shock. Serena Williams had an intricate role in the “Sorry” video which expressed “Apathy,” and was a nice wow factor.

However what shock the masses was the appearances of the mothers of the forever memorialized sons gone too soon. Along with others, the mother of Travon Martin, Michael Brown, and Eric Garner were all front and center in the video “Freedom,” featuring Kendrick Lamar.

If you missed it you don’t have to worry, HBO is having an encore tonight. The album and visual album can be streamed on Tidal as well.  So get in “Formation” because Bey is spilling gallons of Tea, or should I say “Lemonade.”